Tragic story inspires donations to parents

A Market Weighton woman who was brought to tears watching a tragic story on this year’s Children in Need set up a fund to send two grieving parents on holiday.

Many will have watched, tissues in hand, as Paul and Karen Ledsham told the devastating story of their children Harrison and Abigail on this year’s Children in Need.

Abigail was diagnosed with a life-limiting condition with progressive damage to her nervous system at the age of one.

Her parents were told she only had three or four years to live. Five days before her second birthday, sadly Abigail died.

Six years later, Abigail’s older brother Harrison was diagnosed with bone cancer after a tumour was found in his leg. A year later in May 2015, Harrison passed away.

Father Paul said in the Children in Need video: “There’s not a minute of any day that I don’t think about the pair of them smiling at me. They were both happy no matter what was wrong. She used to laugh and giggle until she couldn’t and he did all the way through.”

Touched by the parents’ story, Kelly More of Market Weighton got in touch with Karen Ledsham and asked for their permission to set up a fund for them to send them on holiday.

So far the fund has received more than £7,000 in four days smashing the original £6,000 target.

“I’ve been watching Children in Need for so many years and this is one of the worst I had ever seen,” said Kelly.

“I was sat crying and I thought I need to get in touch with them. It was just heartbreaking.”

Kelly got in touch with Karen and asked for their permission to set up a fund to send them on holiday.

She added: “Karen messaged me back not long after saying that they wouldn’t usually accept anything and they would usually tell people to give the money to charities, but a holiday would certainly be something to look forward to after such a hard time.”

More than 400 people have given to their cause with donations ranging from £5 to £1,000.

One of Harrison’s dreams was to go to Jamaica and he had asked his parents to do all the things he wanted.

The 25-year-old said: “I just think everyone who has donated is amazing. With it being so close to Christmas everyone has been so generous.” Kelly is a travel agent and hopes to travel to Liverpool, near where the Paul and Karen live, to meet them.

Donations not spent on the holiday will be given to the couple or donated to Claire House, the charity they were supported by throughout Harrison and Abigail’s lives.